House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 8 April 1653

Friday, the 8th of April, 1653.

Prayers.

Probates of Wills, &c.

MR. Corbett reports Amendments to the Act for Probate of Wills: Which were twice read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Question being put, That this Bill be ingrossed;

It passed with the Negative.

The said Bill, so amended, being put to the Question, passed: And it is Ordered, That the said Act be forthwith printed . . . published.

Embassy from Sweden.

Ordered, That Colonel Morley, Mr. Allein, Lord Viscount Lisle, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Rawlegh, Sir John Danvers, Sir Wm. Brereton, Sir Wm. Constable, Mr. Nevill, Col. Bossevile, Sir Peter Wentworth, be the Committee to give Audience to the Publick Minister from the Queen of Sweden.

Biggs respited.

The humble Petition of Richard Biggs, a convicted Person in the Marshalseas in Southwark, was this Day read.

The Question being propounded, That the Execution of Richard Biggs, a convicted Person in the Marshalsea in Southwark, for Horse-stealing, be staid for a Month; and that the Judges, before whom he was tried, do, in the mean time, certify the true State of the Matter of Fact, upon the Evidence, to the Parliament;

And the Question being put, That this Question be now put;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

The House was again divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That the Execution of Richard Biggs, a convicted Person in the Marshalseas in Southwark, for Horse-stealing, be staid for a Month: And that the Judges, before whom he was tried, do, in the mean time, certify the true State of the Matter of Fact, upon the Evidence, to the Parliament.

Embassy from Sweden.

The Lord Viscount Lisle reports from the Committee, that was appointed to give Audience to the Publick Minister from the Queen of Sweden, the Letters Credential of the said Queen to the said Publick Minister, with the Speech made by the said Publick Minister, both in Latin and English: which were this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to hear what this Publick Minister shall further say: And to prepare an Answer to this Letter; and report it to the Parliament.

Adjournment.

Resolved, That when the House riseth, Mr. Speaker do adjourn the House until Wednesday Morning next.

Ireland.

Resolved, That the Debate upon the Amendments to the Bill touching Ireland, be adjourned till Thursday next: And to be proceeded in from Day to Day, until it be perfected; and no other Business to intervene.

Hampshire Petition.

The House being informed, that divers Hampshire Gentlemen were at the Door, they were called in: And, being come to the Bar, Major Hooker informed the Parliament, That he with the other Gentlemen with him, were desired, by the Justices of the Bench, Grand Jury, and the Gentlemen of the County of Southampton, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the said County, to present their Petition to the Parliament: And did thereupon present their Petition to the House: Which, after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, The Petition of the County of Southampton, subscribed, at the late Assizes, by the Grand Jury, and near Eight thousand of the Gentry, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants of the said County.

Resolved, That the Petitioners be called in; and that Mr. Speaker do give them the Thanks of the Parliament; and let them know, that some of the Matters contained in the Petition are already under Consideration; and the rest shall be taken into Consideration in due time.

The Petitioners were again called in, and Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, gave them this Answer:

"Gentlemen,

"The House has read your Petition, and considered seriously of it; and have commanded me to give you Thanks: And, in their Name, I do give you Thanks: And I am further to let you know, that the Parliament have many of the Matters contained in the Petition, under Consideration; and that they will take the rest into Consideration, in due time."

Duchy of Lancaster.

The humble Petition of the Justice of Peace, and Two Grand Juries for the County Palatine of Lancaster, assembled at the Assizes, the 18th Day of March 1652, on the Behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Inhabitants of the said County, was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Act for continuing John Bradshaw, Serjeant at Law, Chancellor of the Duchy, be continued for Six Months longer.

An Act for continuing of John Bradshaw Serjeant at Law, Chancellor of the Duchy and County Palatine of Lancaster; and Bartholomew Hall Esquire, AttorneyGeneral of the Duchy of Lancaster; and for continuing the Jurisdictions of the said Duchy and County Palatine of Lancaster; was this Day read the First and Second time.

Resolved, That the Words "revived and" be inserted next before the Word "continued;" and the Time to be, until the 10th Day of October 1653, and no longer.

And the Question being put, That this Act, so amended, be ingrossed;

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Act, so amended, being put to the Question, passed: And it is ordered that the said Act be forthwith printed and published.

Weaver's Petition.

Ordered, That Mr. Weaver's Petition be read on Wednesday Morning next, the first Business.

The House, according to former Order, adjourned itself to Wednesday Morning next, Eight of Clock.